Evaluation of a thermo-tolerant acidophilic alga, Galdieria sulphuraria, for nutrient removal from urban wastewaters

T. Selvaratnam; A. K. Pegallapati; F. Montelya; G. Rodriguez; N. Nirmalakhandan; W. Van Voorhies; P. J. Lammers

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2014.01.075

Evaluation of a thermo-tolerant acidophilic alga, Galdieria sulphuraria, for nutrient removal from urban wastewaters

T. Selvaratnam, A. K. Pegallapati, F. Montelya, G. Rodriguez, N. Nirmalakhandan, W. Van Voorhies, P. J. Lammers

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

100 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nutrient removal from primary wastewater effluent was tested using Galdieria sulphuraria, an acidophilic and moderately thermophilic alga. Biomass yield recorded in this study (27.42g biomass per g nitrogen removed) is higher than the average reported in the literature (25.75gg^-1) while, the theoretical yield estimated from the empirical molecular formula of algal biomass is 15.8gg^-1. Seven-day removal efficiencies were 88.3% for ammoniacal-nitrogen and 95.5% for phosphates; corresponding removal rates were 4.85 and 1.21mgL^-1d^-1. Although these rates are lower than the average literature values for other strains (6.36 and 1.34mgL^-1d^-1, respectively), potential advantages of G. sulphuraria for accomplishing energy-positive nutrient removal are highlighted. Feasibility of growing G. sulphuraria outdoors at densities higher than in high-rate oxidation ponds is also demonstrated.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	395-399
Number of pages	5
Journal	Bioresource Technology
Volume	156
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2014.01.075
State	Published - Mar 2014
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Algal wastewater treatment
Biomass yield
Galdieria sulphuraria
Nutrient removal

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Bioengineering
Environmental Engineering
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Waste Management and Disposal

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10.1016/j.biortech.2014.01.075

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@article{802ae342a9e94620accba139d875c8bc,

title = "Evaluation of a thermo-tolerant acidophilic alga, Galdieria sulphuraria, for nutrient removal from urban wastewaters",

abstract = "Nutrient removal from primary wastewater effluent was tested using Galdieria sulphuraria, an acidophilic and moderately thermophilic alga. Biomass yield recorded in this study (27.42g biomass per g nitrogen removed) is higher than the average reported in the literature (25.75gg-1) while, the theoretical yield estimated from the empirical molecular formula of algal biomass is 15.8gg-1. Seven-day removal efficiencies were 88.3% for ammoniacal-nitrogen and 95.5% for phosphates; corresponding removal rates were 4.85 and 1.21mgL-1d-1. Although these rates are lower than the average literature values for other strains (6.36 and 1.34mgL-1d-1, respectively), potential advantages of G. sulphuraria for accomplishing energy-positive nutrient removal are highlighted. Feasibility of growing G. sulphuraria outdoors at densities higher than in high-rate oxidation ponds is also demonstrated.",

keywords = "Algal wastewater treatment, Biomass yield, Galdieria sulphuraria, Nutrient removal",

author = "T. Selvaratnam and Pegallapati, {A. K.} and F. Montelya and G. Rodriguez and N. Nirmalakhandan and {Van Voorhies}, W. and Lammers, {P. J.}",

note = "Funding Information: This study was supported in part by the NSF Engineering Research Center, ReNUWIT ; the US Department of Energy under contract DE-EE0003046 awarded to the National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts ; the National Science Foundation award #IIA-1301346; and the Ed & Harold Foreman Endowed Chair . The authors thank Prof. U. Goodenough and Robyn Roth (Washington University, Biology Department) for the electron micrograph of a G. sulphuraria cell used in the abstract; Bryn Davis and Sapphire Energy for the PBR design and donation of paddlewheel assemblies. ",

year = "2014",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1016/j.biortech.2014.01.075",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "156",

pages = "395--399",

journal = "Bioresource Technology",

issn = "0960-8524",

publisher = "Elsevier Limited",

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T1 - Evaluation of a thermo-tolerant acidophilic alga, Galdieria sulphuraria, for nutrient removal from urban wastewaters

AU - Selvaratnam, T.

AU - Pegallapati, A. K.

AU - Montelya, F.

AU - Rodriguez, G.

AU - Nirmalakhandan, N.

AU - Van Voorhies, W.

AU - Lammers, P. J.

N1 - Funding Information: This study was supported in part by the NSF Engineering Research Center, ReNUWIT ; the US Department of Energy under contract DE-EE0003046 awarded to the National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts ; the National Science Foundation award #IIA-1301346; and the Ed & Harold Foreman Endowed Chair . The authors thank Prof. U. Goodenough and Robyn Roth (Washington University, Biology Department) for the electron micrograph of a G. sulphuraria cell used in the abstract; Bryn Davis and Sapphire Energy for the PBR design and donation of paddlewheel assemblies.

PY - 2014/3

Y1 - 2014/3

N2 - Nutrient removal from primary wastewater effluent was tested using Galdieria sulphuraria, an acidophilic and moderately thermophilic alga. Biomass yield recorded in this study (27.42g biomass per g nitrogen removed) is higher than the average reported in the literature (25.75gg-1) while, the theoretical yield estimated from the empirical molecular formula of algal biomass is 15.8gg-1. Seven-day removal efficiencies were 88.3% for ammoniacal-nitrogen and 95.5% for phosphates; corresponding removal rates were 4.85 and 1.21mgL-1d-1. Although these rates are lower than the average literature values for other strains (6.36 and 1.34mgL-1d-1, respectively), potential advantages of G. sulphuraria for accomplishing energy-positive nutrient removal are highlighted. Feasibility of growing G. sulphuraria outdoors at densities higher than in high-rate oxidation ponds is also demonstrated.

AB - Nutrient removal from primary wastewater effluent was tested using Galdieria sulphuraria, an acidophilic and moderately thermophilic alga. Biomass yield recorded in this study (27.42g biomass per g nitrogen removed) is higher than the average reported in the literature (25.75gg-1) while, the theoretical yield estimated from the empirical molecular formula of algal biomass is 15.8gg-1. Seven-day removal efficiencies were 88.3% for ammoniacal-nitrogen and 95.5% for phosphates; corresponding removal rates were 4.85 and 1.21mgL-1d-1. Although these rates are lower than the average literature values for other strains (6.36 and 1.34mgL-1d-1, respectively), potential advantages of G. sulphuraria for accomplishing energy-positive nutrient removal are highlighted. Feasibility of growing G. sulphuraria outdoors at densities higher than in high-rate oxidation ponds is also demonstrated.

KW - Algal wastewater treatment

KW - Biomass yield

KW - Galdieria sulphuraria

KW - Nutrient removal

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Evaluation of a thermo-tolerant acidophilic alga, Galdieria sulphuraria, for nutrient removal from urban wastewaters

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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